Can cover and punch



Oct. 16, 1951 J. F. SEYBCIDLD CAN COVER AND PUNCH Filed Dec. 6, 1946 INVENTOR. F. Seybold 21% V hr.

Jbse rh BY ATTORNEY? Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CAN COVER AND PUNCH Joseph F. Seybold, Cleveland, Ohio Application December 6, 1946, Serial No. 714,465

7 Claims.

This invention relates to can opening device and more particularly to can openers of the punch type for use in opening containers of liquid.

Many commodities in liquid form are packaged for storage, handling and sale in paper, fiber or metal cans, the cans being hermetically sealed to prevent 1oss, deterioration and spoilage of the contents. When such cans are to be opened to obtain the contents for use, one method frequently employed, particularly in the case of cans of milk and the like, is to punch or pierce the top of the can at diametrically spaced points adjacent the edges thereof. The contents of a can so punched can be conveniently poured therefrom through one of the openings thus made, the other opening serving to admit air into the can to displace the liquid contents.

To facilitate the punching of spaced air and pouring holes in the top of a can, it has previously been proposed to utilize a device having spaced piercing prongs that can be made to perforate a can top simultaneously; the device being also provided with a circular skirt or apron for positioning the punch on the can top. The present invention is directed to the general improvement of this type of can punch and provides numerous improvements in the general arrangement, simplification, and combination of parts.

Among the objects of and the advantages and improvements sought to be obtained by the present invention are included the following: A guide or cap for overlying the top of a can to be opened in combination with a punch having a releasable interfitting connection with the cap so that the parts can be readily separated; a resilient part which includes a piercing punch in combination with a can cover part, the punch part being springable into interfitting engagement with the cover part so that the inherent resiliency of the punch part retains the parts in assembled relation; a combination can cover and punch, the device including a punch which can be readily separated from the cover part permitting optional use of the latter by itself as a can cover; and a can cover and a can punch interfitted with one another for facile disassembly, the can punch including shoulder means forengagement with the cover part when assembled whereby the cover part can be forced into pOSi-r tion on a can top as the punch part is manipulated to pierce the can.

A further and more specific object of the in,- vention is to provide, for use with a can punch,

a cap having a cover portion for overlying a can top and formed with circumferentially spaced apertures to locate the can punch piercing means extended therethrough into a can covered by the cap for forming pouring and air holes, the cap also having a pouring opening in the cover portion and a region thereof spaced circumferentially from the punch locating apertures so that the cap can be rotated on a can to cover the air holes therein and to position the pouring opening over the pouring hole.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of a suitable embodiment of the invention made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a combination punch and cap in position on the top of a cylindrical metal can pierced by the prongs of the punch, lower portions of the can being cut away and removed;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the can punch and cover combination of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the punch part alone;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary bottom view of the can punch and cover combination showing the interfitting connection of the punch arms in the openings formed in the cover portion of the cap;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the punch part alone showing in broken lines the position of the punch arms when the punch is deformed in assembling it with the cover part; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the cap or cover part of the combination in position on a pierced or opened can, the'ca having been rotated on the can from piercing position and so as to cover the air hole in the can and to position the pouring opening of the cap over the pouring hole of the can.

The combination device of the present invention includes a handle part or portion indicated generally at A and a cap part or portion indicated generally at B. The cap part includes a cover portion I which is of circular shape to conform to the contour of the cans to be opened by the device and has a depending guide flange or skirt 2 formed about its entire periphery. It may be formed of sheet metal, such as steel or brass by a stamping operation or it may be fab,- ricated by cutting, bending and soldering. The diameter of the cover portion I is slightly greater than that of thecans with which the device is to be used so that in positioning the cap part over a can the cylindrical side walls of the can are closely embraced by the guide flange 2, and the cover portion I of the cap may be moved downward to closely overlie the top of the can. As shown in Fig. 1, wherein the can top is indicated at 3 and the cylindrical side walls of the can are indicated at 4, the cap part B covers the top of the can and serves as a guide in positioning the device on a can for and during the punching of the latter.

The handle part A is of U-shape comprising a cross member or grip portion 5 formed with rolled or inturned edges 6 and having at its ends spaced laterally extending arms "I which are generally parallel to one another and terminate at their ends in sharpened piercing prongs 8. The

handle is conveniently made of a single piece of resilient sheet steel by stamping and so that the lateral arms I are yieldable as shown in Fig. 6. While two piercing prongs are illustrated, a single prong may be employed and the device rotated for making as many perforations in the can top as desired.

The cap part B is formed with prong guiding and locatin apertures 9 in the cover portion I. The apertures are circumferentially spaced about the periphery of thecover portion, preferably at diametrically opposite positions. Each of the apertures or openings '9 is sufliciently large to readily pass one of the piercing prongs 8 of the handle part, including angularly disposed cutting flanges I formed on the side edges of the prongs.

Each of the piercing prongs 8 is connected to the arms I by a relatively narrow neck I I of reduced section. In assembling the handle part A with the cap part B, the arms I are bent or sprung toward one another approximately to the broken line positions shown in Fig. 6. Thus deformed, the handle is manipulated to insert the piercing prongs 8 through the cover apertures 9 until shoulders I4 on the ends of the arms engage the upper surface of the cover portion I, the deforming pressure on the arms I is thenreleased permitting them to move or spring apart so that the relatively narrow necks II are received in lateral slots I continuous with the apertures 9 of the cover portion.

As shown in Fig. 4 the piercing prongs 8 are wider than the necked portions II of the arms providing notches I6 between the prongs and the shoulders I4. The notches I5 receive portions of the cover which are at the ends of the slots I5, this interfitting connection between the arms and the cover serving to retain the parts in assembled relation. The inherent resiliency of the handle part -A, the arms I in normal unstressed condition being sprung outward slightly beyond their assembled positions, serves to retain the interfitting connections and to prevent inadvertent withdrawal or movement of the necks II out of the slots I5.

A pouring openin I! is formed in the cover portion I of the cap part at the edge of the latter and at a point spaced circumferentially from the guide Or prong receiving openings 9. The pouring opening is continuous over the edge corner of'the cap part, extending down into the guide flange 2 as shown in Fig. 3. By this arrangement a clear unobstructed opening is provided in line with the pierced opening in the can top so that the contents of the can may be readily dispensed through the pouring opening I'I when the latter is rotated into position as will later appear.

In utilizing the device the cap part B, having the handle part A assembled therewith in interfltting relation, is positioned over a can to be punched. The piercing barbs or prongs 8 which are shorter than the depth of the arcuate guide flange 2 are positioned wholly within the circular guide flange. Thus the latter serves to locate the punching device in positioning the latter on the top of the can. Pressure on the grip 5 is transmitted directly to the barbs 8 through the arms I, the integral construction minimizing the possibility of looseners, misalignment and deformation in use. As the prongs 8 are forced through the can top 3 the lateral cutting flanges I0, which are tapered downwardly and disposed in spaced generally parallel relation along opposite side edges of each of the prongs, operate to sever three sides of a rectangular flap from the top of the can and to bend the flap =d0wnwardly into the interior of the can. The can is thus opened or perforated without the formation of ragged edges and with the punched flaps retained by attachment to the inside edges of the openings formed by the piercing prongs.

As the piercing of the can top progresses the cap part B is forced downwardly by the shoulders I4 of the arms I to approximately the position illustrated in Fig. 1. By applying lateral pressure to the arms 'I of the handle part A to squeeze them together narrow neck portions II of the arms are released or moved inwardly from the slots I5 and the piercing prongs B may be withdrawn from the top of the pierced can and through the openings or apertures 9 in the cover portion I of the cap.

With the handle partthus disassembled from the cap part B, the latter may be rotated on the can top so that the pouring opening I1 is aligned over one of the pierced openings in the can top which becomes the pouring hole designated at I8 (Fig. 7). The cover portion I of the cap overlies the other pierced opening in the can top, such other opening constituting the air inlet hole indicated at I9 (Fig. 'I). By this arrangement the cap part B may be utilized to require pouring of the can contents through the same pouring hole at each dispensing. Additionally, thecap may be attractively finished as by being painted or plated to enhance the appearance of the same when assembled with a can from which the contents are being dispensed.

The principles of the present invention may be utilized in various ways, numerous modifications and alterations being contemplated, substitution of parts and changes in construction being resorted to as desired, it being understood that the embodiment shown in the drawings and described above is given merely'for purposes of explanation and illustration without intending to limit the scope of the claims to the specific details disclosed.

What I claim is:

1. A device for use in opening a can and in dispensing the liquid contents thereof, comprising a body member having a cover portion for overlying the top of the can and a depending curved skirt for embracing the sides of the can, said cover portion having spaced slotted openings and a pouring opening circumferentially spaced from the slotted openings, a handle member having spaced laterally extending resilient arms formed with ends receivable in the slotted openslotted openings to retain the parts in fixed relation when assembled, said arms having piercing barbs on the ends thereof for puncturing the top of a can, the handle arms being deformable to withdraw the same from the slots in the cover openings and to thereby release the interfitting slot and notch connections for disassembly of the body and handle members whereby the cover portion can be rotated on the punctured can to one position to align the pouring opening therein with one of the punctured openings in the can for the dispensing of the liquid contents of the can therethrough, or to another position in which the punctured openings are covered by the cover portion.

2. A device for use in opening a. can comprising a body member having a cover portion for overlying the top of the can and a depending curved skirt for embracing the sides of the can, said cover portion having spaced slotted openings, a handle member havin spaced laterally extending resilient arms formed with notched ends receivable interlockingly in the slotted openings of the cover portion in assembly, the arms having said notches for interfitting relation with the slotted openings t retain the parts in fixed relation when assembled, said arms having piercing barbs on the ends thereof for puncturing the top of a can, the handle arms bein deformable and laterally deflectable to withdraw the same laterally from the slots in the cover openings and to thereby release the interfitting slot and notch connections for endwise withdrawal of the arms from the cover openings and disassembly of the body and handle members.

3. A device for use in opening a can comprising an apertured cover part for overlying the top of a can and a handle part having a pair of spaced notched arms extending through the apertures in the cover part, portions of the cover part adjacent the apertures bein received by relative lateral movement of the arms edgewise and interlockingly in the arm notches to retain the parts in predetermined relation in assembly and to resist relative endwise movement of the arms in the apertures, the arms being shiftable laterally in the cover apertures to release the cover from the notches for endwise withdrawal of the arms from the cover apertures in disassembly of the parts, and piercing prongs on the ends of the arms.

4. A can punch comprising an apertured cover part for overlying the top of a can and a handle part having an arm extending through the aperture in the cover and terminating in a piercing prong, the arm having a notch and a portion of the cover being received by relative lateral movement of the arm edgewise and interlockingly in the arm notch to locate the parts in predetermined relation in assembly and to resist relative endwise movement of the arm in the cover aperture, and the arm being shiftable laterally in the cover aperture to release the cover from the notch for endwise withdrawal of the arm and prong from the cover aperture in disassembly of the parts.

5. A can punch comprising an apertured cover part for overlying the top of a can and a resilient handle part including an arm extending through the aperture in the cover, the arm having a notch and a portion of the cover adjacent the aperture being received by relative lateral movement of the arm edgewise and interlockingly in the arm notch to locate the parts in predetermined relation in assembly and to resist relative endwise movement of the arm in the cover aperture, the arm being shiftable laterally in the cover aperture to release the cover from the notch for endwise withdrawal of the arm from the aperture in disassembly of the parts, the handle part being connected to the cover part remote from the aperture and being deformed in assembly whereby the inherent resiliency of the handle part normally retains the cover portion seated in said interlocking relation in the arm notch for use, and a piercing prong on the end of the arm.

6. A can punch comprising an apertured cover part for overlying the top of a can and a resilient substantially U shaped handle part having spaced arms receivable in the apertures of the cover part and movable laterally in the apertures upon distortion of the handle part, the arms and the walls of the apertures having complemental formations interlockingly engageable and releasably disengageable by said lateral movement of the arms in the apertures for locating the parts in predetermined relation in assembly and for resisting endwise movement of the arms in the cover apertures, the formations when disengaged upon said lateral movement of the arms permitting endwise withdrawal of the arms from the apertures to disassemble the parts, and piercing prongs on the ends of the arms.

7. A can punch of separable parts comprising an apertured cover for overlying the top of a can and a handle having an arm extending downwardly through the aperture in the cover and terminating in a piercing prong located below the cover, the arm having a notch and being laterally movable within the aperture for interlockingly engaging and releasably disengaging the wall of the cover aperture in the notch, the interlock of the arm notch and aperture wall serving to locate the parts in predetermined relation in assembly and also to resist relative endwise movement of the arm and the cover in use, the release of the aperture wall from the arm notch upon relative lateral movement of the arm in the aperture permitting endwise withdrawal of the arm from the aperture in disassembly of the parts, and the piercing prong including an element having an edge disposed at an acute angle to the line of said endwise withdrawal, said edge serving as a cam to apply a lateral force to the arm during a can punching operation in which the prong is forced into and through a can top, said cam element of the prong being disposed so that the lateral force so applied acts on the arm to oppose relative lateral releasing movement of the arm in the cover aperture.

JOSEPH F. SEYBOLD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

